Pokhara, December 16

More than 13 per cent children across the country are deprived of essential vaccinations while at least three per cent kids do not have access to any kind of immunisation service.

Director at the Department of Child Health, Dr Rajendra Panta, said more than 13 per cent of children were deprived of essential vaccinations in the country.

Speaking at a workshop organised in Pokhara, Panta said, “Nepal is doing better to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by strengthening child health and minimising maternal mortality.” He pledged that the department would work sincerely to achieve Sustainable Development Goals by alleviating poverty and ending food crisis by 2030.

Krishna Bahadur Chand, chief at the Department of Child Health, said the government was preparing to ensure 100 per cent access to all kinds of vaccinations across the country by 2017. “A vaccination fund of Rs 70 million has been set up and a five-year vaccination plan has been forwarded accordingly,” said Chand.

Sharada Poudel, member of Women, Children, Senior Citizen and Social Welfare Committee of the Parliament, stressed on developing a network among stakeholders to ensure children’s access to vaccination across the country. “Children in the far-flung districts should be prioritised,” she suggested.

Western Regional Administrator Khaga Raj Baral, however, said though the overall availability of vaccinations was satisfactory, the situation in some districts was pathetic. He urged the concerned stakeholders to invest in health and sanitation.

Regional Health Director Dr Tara Nath Poudel said of the 16 districts in the Western Development Region, seven districts were well facilitated with all types of vaccines while four other districts would achieve similar status soon.

Public Health Administrator of Kaski Dinesh Chapagain said, “Of 32 VDCs in Kaski, as many as 29 VDCs and Pokhara Sub Metropolitan have all vaccines available while Lekhnath Municipality along with Thumki, Bhadaure and Thumako Danda VDCs will soon attain the status.”